It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

“It’s Monday! What are you reading?” is a weekly event hosted by Sheila at Bookjourneyto share with others what you’ve read the past week and planning to read next.

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I read 4 books in the last week

… But 2 of them I didn’t finish!

Click on the orange links for more information

The Trout Opera by Matthew Condon. An 100-year old Australian man is kidnapped by the Olympic Committee as they want him to be present at the opening ceremony. He thinks back to his younger years while his great-niece is sorting out her problems before trying to locate him. 4 stars

Noorderzon [Gone Away]van Renate Dorrestein [Dutch]. A woman has disappeared and her fiancé is worried. According to her house mate, she may be suffering from memory loss after years of alcohol abuse. The fiancé doesn’t believe this. But the reader gets some indication that it might be true… One of my favorite Dutch writers. 3.5 stars

The Wasted Vigil by Nadeem Aslam (DNF). Coming Saturday there will be another Dutch book bloggers meeting and the suggestion last time was to read and discuss this book. However, I found it boring, slow going, and didn’t care for the characters. I read 100 pages so I think I tried hard enough.

The Lady and the Poet by Maeve Haran (DNF). Another one that I didn’t finish. This is a book from my TBR Slash challenge and I started quite happily, but didn’t get into it.

Currently Reading

The Bomber by Liza Marklund. At the Olympic Stadion in Stockholm a bomb has gone off and a person has died. Journalist Annika Bengtzon is very cleverly trying to find out about the background of the incident and the victim. She hasn’t much of a home life, which her husband and children resent. A great read!

Other news

Click on the orange links for more information

The Ugly Covers Competition is in its sixth week! Cast your vote for the ugliest cover… HERE. (Anyone can enter).

Check out my review ofThe Cosy Knave by Dorte Hummelshoj Jakobsen. Rose, an older single woman, is murdered while in the company of several other villagers. Nobody saw what happened. Archibald Penrose, the local constable investigates the case. Very English, lots of fun names, lots of tea. 3.5 stars.

And my review ofAlways on My Mind by Colette Caddle. Chick-lit. In a few months’ time, Molly Jackson will marry her fiancé Declan. But when she meets an old flame ánd Declan isn’t giving the wedding the priority he should, she starts to get second thoughts. 3.5 stars.

My 5 Best Books… with Ghosts are HERE, and my new arrivals (new books) are HERE.

If you were wondering how I did in the 100 mile fitness challenge, look HERE.

Thanks, Nadine. I also don’t like to stop reading a book, or at least, to make that decision, because, who knows, maybe after another 20 pages it would be much better. But then, 100 pages of not-so-interesting *is* enough.

What lovely books, all this meme does is add more books to my TBR list. I walked lots and lots, so much so that with the heat I ended up blistering my feet. After that I rented a “velib” and biked and biked. I also rode over 100 km this weekend as I have three boxes of macarons I brought home. Have a great week Judith. The two covers that appeal to me are the ones you DNF.

Vasilly, I am giving up on Aslam after just one book. My fellow blogger Jackie of Farmlane Books shares my taste in books and she couldn’t finish another book of his. So, I guess he’s not for me (or her).

I haven’t read any of these books but they sound interesting. I particularly like the sound of Noorderzon. I would give up too. If it’s a book that you just aren’t enjoying and you know that’s unlikely to change then life is too short.